regál

Regál is a noun used in Czech and Slovak to denote a shelf, rack, or display unit designed to hold and present items. It is commonly encountered in retail, storage, and library or office settings, where regály refer to shelving fixtures or display stands. In shops, regály are the primary means of organizing products, and they are often described as part of a regálový systém or regálové wyposażení (shelving systems or fixtures).

In everyday usage, regál describes both freestanding shelves and wall-mounted display units, as well as larger shelving installations in warehouses or magazins. The word’s plural form is regály in both languages. While polica is also used for general “shelf” in some contexts, regál is the standard term for a shelving fixture or display unit in retail environments and institutions.

Etymology and related terms: regál is cognate with similar words in neighboring languages that designate shelves or display fixtures, and it is related to the broader family of terms derived from the idea of a constructed shelf or case. In related vocabulary, regália (regalia) exists in some contexts to mean royal insignia, but that is a distinct sense separate from regál as a shelving unit.

See also: Regália (regalia) as a separate concept referring to ceremonial insignia or royal privileges in some languages.

Note: Variants and spelling reflect diacritic usage in Czech and Slovak, with the plural form regály.